CAMA accuses Immigration of charging K40,000 for K15,000 passport

The Consumers Association of Malawi (CAMA) has no kind words for the Immigrating department in the North brandishing it as a bunch of corrupt guys who are busy demanding K40 000 for a passport of K15 000 for fast processing.

CAMA regional coordinator for the North Isaac Gondwe has since warned of unspecified action if more people continue complaining of being asked to pay K40 000 for a passport of K15 000.

“Reports of corruption associated with the issuance of passports at Immigration department continue to grow and the responsible authorities continue to pay deaf ear to the same. CAMA wishes to question the logic of applicants paying up to MK 40 000 for a MK 15 100 passports. It is a fact that the practice remains an aching thorn to the rural masses who cover long distances to the Immigrating offices only to fall prey to the usual ‘check with us after two weeks”’syndrome,” reads a a statement signed by Gondwe and Enock Kamangadazi Soko who is CAMA”s advocacy and education officer for the North.

CAMA demands the Ministry of Home Affairs to explain to Malawians why the issuance of passports continues to take too long when the economy has picked up.

Isaac Gondwe -Immigration officials ripping people off

The counsumer watchdog also urges Malawians not to allow to pay extra money for the passports.

In an interview Gondwe challenged that there are many people that he knows who were demanded K40 000 for a passport of K15000.

“There is a woman who after paying extra money and the passport didn’t come as expected called Immigration headquarters and fumed at the officers and the bwana in Blantyre called the officer here in the North and told him to give the woman her money back and she got it,” said Gondwe.

Immigration”s public relations officer for the North Comet Jeremiah did not provide answers when contacted but only promised to do so in good time which he did not over a couple of weeks.